Wood vs Warrington Odds: The champ is early favourite to retain title

This week saw another huge Betfred sponsored fight announced as Nottingham’s Leigh Wood takes on Leeds own Josh Warrington for the WBA World Featherweight title. We’ve taken an early look at the betting odds and given you all the info we have on this huge domestic dust up.

Nottingham’s home grown son Leigh Wood (27-3, 16 KOs), produced a 12-round masterclass in May, against the man who stopped him; Mexico’s hard-hitting dangerman Mauricio Lara, to reclaim his WBA 126lbs crown at the AO Arena, in Manchester.

In doing so, he became Britain’s latest two-time World Champion and gave himself the chance for some huge paydays, starting with this massive domestic showdown with Josh Warrington

‘The Leeds Warrior’, Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs), is aiming to become a three-time Featherweight World Champion, after surrendering his IBF belt to Mexico’s Luis Alberto Lopez, following a close points loss at the First Direct Arena last December – his first defeat in his home city.

Where and when is the fight taking place?

The fight is happening on the neutral ground of the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Saturday, October 7th and will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN in the UK. The event is a Eddie Hearn promotion for Matchroom Boxing.  The show will start at around 7pm, with the main ring walk taking place at around 10pm.

What does the full fight card look like?

• MAIN EVENT: Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – for WBA Featherweight title.
• TBA

(subject to change)

What’s been said?

Dom McGuinness and Anthony Crolla interviewed all the major players as part of the twin city press conference, as part of Betfred’s lightweight boxing show.

“I’m not gonna lie, when Josh’s first line of the conference is: ‘I’ve got no bad blood with Leigh Wood, I really respect him’ you think, oh no, but these two lads really, really want to win.

We’re going to have to segregate the crowd as its Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. Leigh’s supporters will be on one side of the Arena and Josh’s on the other”

Eddie Hearn

“We’re very similar in terms of following, we way we conduct ourselves and our style of fighting.

He’s like a Leeds version of me, that doesn’t punch as hard or box as well!

I thrive on nights like this and I dont think he’s ever boxed anyone that has had the support I’ll have.

I think this could be my last fight at Featherweight but if I win this, the next fight will be at the City Ground!”

Leigh Wood

“I’ve been here before, Me and Carl (Frampton) were very amicable and we ended having the fight of the year.

You don’t need that needle sometimes, you don’t need to be chucking tables at each other to then go and knock seven bells out of each other.

When I get that win on October 7th, they’ll be saying I’m back on the up and I can travel to America to rematch Lopez”

Josh Warrington

*All prices correct at the time of writing.